Advanced Conversion Course
798 Naval Air Squadron formed at HMS Daedalus, RNAS Lee-on-Solent, on 11 October 1943, to provide aircrew conversion courses. It was titled as an Advanced Conversion Course, and was initially equipped with both single and twin-engined aircraft, including Fairey Barracuda, which was a British single-engined carrier-borne torpedo and dive bomber, Bristol Beaufighter, a British twin-engined multi-role aircraft, Bristol Beaufort, a British twin-engined torpedo bomber, Bristol Blenheim, a British twin-engined light bomber, Fairey Fulmar, a British single-engines carrier-borne reconnaissance and fighter aircraft, Miles Master, a British single-engined two-seat advanced trainer, Airspeed Oxford a British twin-engined trainer aircraft and de Havilland Tiger Moth a British single-engined biplane trainer aircraft.
In March 1944 the twin-engined aircraft broke away to form 762 Naval Air Squadron. From 20 April 1944 the squadron operated a detachment at HMS Blackcap, RNAS Stretton, in Cheshire, England. It provided operational conversion training for new Fairey Barracuda equipped squadrons, but returned to Lee-on-Solent at the beginning of August. The squadron also received Fairey Firefly a British carrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft, and North American Harvard, an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft, during 1944.
Refresher Flying Training Unit
During 1945 the squadron had a role change and provided refresher and familiarisation training courses. On 6 September 798 NAS relocated to RNAS Halesworth (HMS Sparrowhawk), in Suffolk, England and here it provided Fleet Air Arm ex-prisoners of war refresher courses, with the North American Harvard aircraft, following their return home. In November the squadron moved again, to RNAS Hinstock (HMS Godwit), in Shropshire, England and it was here on 18 March 1946 that 798 Naval Air Squadron disbanded.